An evaluation was conducted of the Hawaii Food Stamp Employment and Training/Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Program Conformance Demonstration, known as PRIDE (Positive Response in Developing Employment). The impact analysis examined client participation patterns, services, and employment outcomes. A pre-post/demonstration-comparison site design compared differences in the demonstration (Oahu) and the comparison (Hawaii) sites. Department of Human Services administrative data files, Unemployment Insurance quarterly earnings records, and University of Hawaii postsecondary education completion data were analyzed. Findings indicated that administrative data files needed to answer many questions concerning participation patterns were not archived. Response to being called in to participate in an employment and training program dropped 25 percent during the demonstration. Declines in average monthly participation occurred in individual job search (down 40 percent) and basic education (down 5 percent). Participation increased in vocational training (17 percent) and work experience (25 percent). Effects of the demonstration were measured for employment rates immediately following program participation, quarterly earnings immediately following job placement, and job retention rates six months after employment. Most differences were statistically insignificant. The only measure that showed a significant net effect was employment retention. (Appendixes include methodology and data used and detailed statistical results in 25 tables.) (YLB)

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